LITHUANIA | Li1, Spring Blossom | Li2, Summer polyfloral | Li3, Rapeseed | Li4, Linden | Li5, Buckwheat | Li6, Sosnowsky’s hogweed | Li7, Forest, European dark bee | Li8, Multifloral Hollow tree beekeeping | Li9, Vilnius city honeydew |
Li6, Sosnowsky’s hogweed
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The honey
This honey variety is certainly not very typical or even common to Lithuania. It tells less of a story of the country’s beekeeping’s past, but rather one of troublesome present and an uncertain future.
Sosnowsky’s hogweed - an invasive plant - was introduced during the Soviet era as a fodder crop. Today, it is spreading across the country’s already threatened and ever shrinking natural perennial wildflower meadows, outcompeting native melliferous plants. Although it is estimated to be the cause of the greatest economic damage of any invasive plant in Europe, there seems to be a small silver lining, when talking about it in the context of beekeeping. Sosnowsky’s hogweed produces large amounts of nectar - up to six times more per hectare than rapeseed. For this reason, the plant attracts a wide variety of pollinators, including honey - producing bees. However, research has found it to be less attractive to highly specialized pollinators, such as solitary bees and has a negative impact on their already dwindling populations. While the plant itself is highly toxic due to photosensitivity caused by furanocoumarins, honey itself is not known to be problematic in the same regard. Aroma: animalic, with a heavy green intensity, reminiscent of narcissus flowers with spicy earthy nuances Aroma: intense, green and spicy with earthy vegetal nuances. Taste: robust, slightly tangy sweetness with herbal depth. Texture: dense, slow-crystallizing, viscous. The beekeeping
Algirdas Amšiejus is a Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor at Vytautas Magnus University’s Agriculture Academy, a breeder of pedigree queen bees, and a beekeeper with 40 years of experience.
It is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Amšiejus is one of Lithuania’s most renowned beekeepers - amongst his peers as well as consumers. His charisma has long served him well in educating the wider public about the fascinating world of bees and the benefits of their products. |
